Actress Tamannaah in an interview to a leading Tamil daily has stated that casting couch exists in the film industry and sexual harassment is also prevalent.  She has added that actresses who adjust to sexual advancement from directors and producers are promoted by them.  She has however said that in her twelve years experience as an actress in the South she has not experienced any such situation but other actresses have shared their bad experiences with her.

Reacting to Tamannaah's statement 'Puli' producer and long time PRO P.T. Selvakumar has stated that "sexual harassment exists in IT and all  other industries.  As far as cinema is concerned the members of the industry consider it as a penance to work in this field. A few may have indulged in such activities but it is wrong of Tamannaah to say in a general sense without mentioning names that the casting couch exists.  Directors like Mani Ratnam, Hari, Shankar and actors like Sivakumar, Vijayakanth, Ajith and Vijay follow strict principles and lead a clean life and it is an injustice to throw allegations.  Watch the rest of the video statement below.